An open letter to federal workers:
Federal workers are reported to be outraged that they have to provide a work summary… Essentially a list of what they did for the week. I find it very difficult to find any sympathy. Let me explain why.
For those who don’t know, I drive tractor trailer for a living these days.
I have far more of a situation of having to justify my existence then federal workers could dream of, for the most part. (Yeah, federal workers imposed the micromanaging regulations that I work under, but I’ll get to that.)
We drive on substandard roads with people that are not professional drivers and as a result truck driving is probably among the most dangerous jobs in the country and has been for several years now.
We are required to be able to pass a roadside inspection at any time… tires, brakes, pollution equipment, etc and to satisfy those requirements the state invests a large amount of money and any one of the points of inspection that I do not pass I get serious fines for.
The anti-pollution gear I mentioned, is very expensive to maintain, makes our trucks less reliable by being fraught with problems …but the government insists on jamming it down our throats.
For all that they’re making sure that my truck is worthy of government roads, somehow it slips their minds that the roads ought to be up to the drill of handling my truck.
I have a in cab camera facing me watching every move I make 24/7.
I have a electronic device on the dash recording when I stop when I go and for how long and how fast or slow I am driving…
I have a electronic logbook telling when I can drive or not whether I am tired or not…
I have a satellite device on my truck showing my exact location 24/7.
I have to get a medical check up every 6 months to prove I am healthy… And drug free.
The interstate is dotted with traffic camera’s monitoring my speed and weight sensors in the road to make sure I am not overweight…
See all those numbers and stickers on the side of the truck next to you? Those are because we have to kneel before several different branches of government, just to do our job. Every one of them requires a fee be paid.
All to bring you the stuff that you want and need every single day.
Tell me again, government workers, about your plight. I put up with all this nonsense to earn a paycheck for myself and my family, only to have a good deal of it taken from me and put into your pocket after you drop these regulations on me and my brother drivers.
And now, you have the audacity to complain about YOUR having to justify your existence by means of an email explaining what you did, to justify your overly large salary and benefit list, that taxpayers, myself included have to pay for??
